Locations/Delaware Valley Region
Services

Residential Services

Lifesharing (formerly known as Family Living) provides long-term support for children and adults with mental retardation in a stable and qualified host family home. People who receive Lifesharing services attend school, work and day programs. The host family receives continued support and guidance from Access Services. In turn, the host family shares in the team responsibility of helping the individual to become part of their family and the community in which they live.  Click here for a printable brochure.

Support Services

In-Home Supports are individually designed practical services that take place in the homes and/or communities of people with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to work with the individuals’ unique situations to provide support in setting and meeting personal goals; making their homes more accessible; helping with routine, daily care; and, helping them to become contributing and active members of their communities.

Respite is a service that provides short-term care to adults and children with disabilities in nurturing home environments. Respite is often used to stabilize a person who is in crisis, but may not need hospitalization. Respite also gives caregivers a much-needed relief from the daily routines that cause burnout and fatigue.

Starting Point offers support to people who have a chronic mental illness in Montgomery County. Sometimes people need extra help to get back on their feet, find a place to live and get into community life. Starting Point is an individualized, needs-based program that may involve short- or long-term support.  Click here for a printable brochure.

Children’s Crisis Support (CCSP)
offers crisis hotline support to children and adolescents in Montgomery County. The purpose of the program is to help children and families manage crisis successfully through individualized crisis response and planning. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-HELP-414 (435-7414). Crisis intervention is provided to assist families to better manage crisis situations and direct them towards resolutions and resources to better manage future crises. 

A new part of the funding from Montgomery County includes services called "Family Engagement" where community based crisis support is provided at no charge to adolescents and their families during and after a hospitalization.  Click here for brochure.

Youth Outdoor Expedition (YOE)
is a new program that began in 2006.  This year again we are offering a Wilderness Expedition to youth "at-risk" who are experiencing behavioral/emotional issues (from ages 12 to 16).   This will give them an opportunity to participate in a wilderness camp in Canadensis, PA along with a canoe and camping trip on the Delaware River.  The purpose of the camping experience is through recreational activity to build character, self-esteem, teamwork, leadership, along with opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities, learn outdoor skills, and develop life-long skills for healthy living.

Girls: June 29 - July 4, 2008

Guys: August 10 - 15, 2008  

Fees: $300 (scholarships available)

Email: Rachael Boorse

Phone: 215-540-2150 ext. 301

Click here for a registration form

Community Supported Living (CSL) acts as a support to individuals living independently in the community. Staff members ensure the health, safety and community fellowship of the individuals, utilizing resources within the community.

Children's Services

Therapeutic Foster Care is not as intimidating as it sounds. Therapeutic means "healing" and to foster is "to nurture". The treatment of children in a family setting is the principal focus of TFC. This community-based program provides services to children and teens that have a psychiatric diagnosis, emotional and behavioral issues and are unable to live with their natural families. Therapeutic Foster Parents serves as both caregivers of children with treatment needs (the fostering role); and as agents of planned change (the treatment role). Whenever possible, reunification with the natural family is a goal.

Enhanced Behavioral Health Services (Wraparound) is a state-funded program that provides therapeutic interventions to children under the age of 21 who are experiencing emotional or behavioral problems. The program practices a family-centered philosophy and is based on the principle of "wrapping" services and supports around the specific needs of the children and their families. Individualized service is provided as a process of working with children and their families in their home communities.

Other Services

Consultative Services/Specialized Supports and Planning acts as an internal resource for all the departments at Access Services who serve individuals with special needs. As a resource, it provides staff members with specialized and alternative supports for the individuals served. It also serves as a resource for staff development and enrichment. Consultative Services works with Community Building to provide a full circle of services.

Community Building acts as a resource by training, consulting, and supporting Access Services’ programs and the individuals we serve in order to broaden their community relationships. We use a person-centered approach building on the strengths, contributions and interests of each person within his/her community. As a person develops relationships in the community, his/her circle of support is also broadened.